Fire strikes at FiDi’s 55 Water, leaving more than two dozen injured

A fire at a Financial District high-rise office tower, rendered powerless by Hurricane Sandy, has left some 27 injured, the New York Times reported. The fire erupted at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the basement of 55 Water Street — home to Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency, insurer EmblemHealth, the New York City Department of Transportation and other offices, according to the New York Post.

The 53-story tower was one of many office building in Lower Manhattan left without power following Hurricane Sandy. And although the fire was caused by an electrical problem, the building’s temporary generators were not to blame, the New York Fire Department said in a statement.

“The fire at 55 Water Street was caused by a short in a feeder cable, which was re-energized this morning as part of repair work to electrical cables damaged during the storm,” Frank Dwyer, a Fire Department spokesperson, said.

Approximately 27 workers and a fireman were treated for smoke inhalation after nearly 80 firefighters arrived at the scene. [NYT and NYP] –Christopher Cameron